Nyamira MCAs reject motion to adjourn over Uhuru visit

Nyamira County Assembly on Wednesday defeated an adjournment motion to allow them attend President Uhuru Kenyatta’s campaign rallies in the region on Thursday.

Nineteen members affiliated to the National Super Alliance used their tyranny of numbers in the House to reject the motion tabled by Minority Leader Denis Kebaso.

Mr Charles Barongo argued that allowing such a motion “will set bad precedence in the House” as each member may seek similar adjournments once their political party leaders visited the area.

“This is a campaign period and Mr Kenyatta is coming visiting not as a President but a presidential candidate. My presidential candidate is Raila Amolo Odinga and therefore I cannot attend the Jubilee rally,” Mr Barongo said.

FUNCTION

Mr Thaddeus Nyabaro defended the motion, saying the Head of State was still the President of Kenya despite the repeat presidential elections and they should adjourn to attend the function.

“It will be bad if I will not attend the President’s function since he is going to land in my Ekerenyo ward,” Mr Nyabaro said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto are scheduled to visit Nyamira on Thursday.

The two leaders are expected to start their campaign rallies at Ekerenyo sports ground in North Mugirango before moving to Gesima in Kitutu Masaba constituency.

Mr Laban Masira said there was no official invitation to the Assembly to warrant them to adjourn to attend the function.

Ms Irene Sese supported the motion, saying despite being minority, their voice should be heard and respected.

RALLIES

Mr Robinson Mocheche said his Bonyamatuta ward residents will not allow him attend a Jubilee campaign function yet they had elected him on ODM party.

The President’s visit will be his first to the region since his victory was invalidated by the Supreme Court.

Jubilee party officials said he will conduct rallies in Kisii town, Suneka and Marani shortly after landing.

He is expected to land at 10 in Kisii to campaigns in those areas, “Kisii County Jubilee Secretary General Isaac Motari told the Nation.

President Kenyatta's visit to Kisii is widely seen as a move by the Jubilee Party leader to mend his relationship with voters in the region following the recent attack on Chief Justice David Maraga over the Supreme Court ruling.

Justice David Maraga is a native of Nyamira County and some of the residents held protests over the President’s criticism of the court’s majority ruling last month.

In the last three weeks, the President has met two separate delegations from the community in State House Nakuru and Nairobi as the part of the reconciliation efforts with the community.